20 Matching Annotations
  1. Last 7 days
    1. Zack Whittaker. Facebook won't let you opt out of its phone number 'look up' setting. TechCrunch, March 2019. URL: https://techcrunch.com/2019/03/03/facebook-phone-number-look-up/ (visited on 2023-12-07).

      Fisker is initiating layoffs to conserve cash amidst launching its new Ocean SUV. In the realm of AI, GitHub has introduced Copilot Workspace, an AI-driven software engineering tool, while Elon Musk aims to expand xAI, planning to raise $6 billion for the initiative. On the social media front, Meta is rolling out a bonus program for creators on Threads, and Getir is retreating from the US, UK, and Europe to concentrate on its Turkish market, impacting over 6,000 jobs. Meanwhile, Facebook faces criticism for its use of phone numbers collected under the guise of security for targeted advertising and profile lookups, despite the lack of an opt-out option, raising significant privacy concerns.

    1. The method of determining what is shown to users is called a recommendation algorithm, which is an algorithm (a series of steps or rules, such as in a computer program) that recommends posts for users to see, people for users to follow, ads for users to view, or reminders for users.

      Recommendation algorithms play a crucial role in enhancing user experience across various digital platforms by personalizing content, which can make browsing more relevant and engaging. They help in discovering new content, products, or connections that might not have been found otherwise. For instance, they can suggest movies on streaming platforms or products on e-commerce sites based on user preferences and behavior.

  2. Apr 2024
    1. Social model of disability. November 2023. Page Version ID: 1184222120. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Social_model_of_disability&oldid=1184222120#Social_construction_of_disability (visited on 2023-12-07).

      The social construction of disability posits that what society labels as a disability reflects broader societal beliefs, power dynamics, and historical contexts. This paradigm argues that definitions of disability are not static but are shaped by societal attitudes and expectations about productivity and worthiness. Historically, disability has been perceived in various ways. During the medieval period, disability was often seen as divine punishment linked to moral failings, not just biological differences. It wasn't until the Enlightenment in Europe that the perception shifted towards a more biological focus, influenced by prevailing Western European standards of health.

    1. Which abilities are expected of people, and therefore what things are considered disabilities, are socially defined [j1]. Different societies and groups of people make different assumptions about what people can do, and so what is considered a disability in one group, might just be “normal” in another.

      The concept of disability is indeed shaped by social contexts and expectations. What one society might define as a disability could be viewed differently by another, depending on the value and importance they place on specific abilities. This variability underscores the idea that disability is not just a matter of biological or physical conditions but also how abilities are perceived and valued within a society. For instance, a community that highly values oral storytelling might consider difficulties in verbal communication more disabling than a society that relies more on written communication. Thus, the understanding of what constitutes a disability can vary widely, reflecting broader societal norms and cultural values. This highlights the importance of considering cultural and contextual factors when discussing and addressing disability.

    1. Private message. November 2023. Page Version ID: 1185376021. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Private_message&oldid=1185376021 (visited on 2023-12-05).

      Private messages (PMs), also known as direct messages (DMs), are confidential communications exchanged on various platforms, distinct from public posts. They offer a means for users to interact privately without exposure to other platform users. PMs encompass different types: those on IRCs, forums, and social media apps, as well as those on instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Snapchat. Additionally, peer-to-peer messaging allows users to control the transmission and storage of their messages independently. PMs have evolved beyond personal use and are increasingly utilized in professional settings for efficient communication among coworkers. However, their integration into workplace dynamics raises concerns about the boundary between professional and personal lives.

    1. here might be some things that we just feel like aren’t for public sharing (like how most people wear clothes in public, hiding portions of their bodies)

      This sentence brings up an interesting comparison between physical privacy, like the clothes we wear, and the boundaries we might set around sharing personal information or feelings. It suggests that just as we use clothes to cover our bodies and protect our privacy in a physical sense, there are aspects of our lives or thoughts that we may choose to keep private or only share in certain contexts. The idea reflects a broader societal understanding that some things are meant to be personal or confidential, which is a widely accepted norm. Overall, it highlights the importance of respecting personal boundaries and the choices individuals make about what to share publicly.

    1. It turns out that if you look at a lot of data, it is easy to discover spurious correlations [h12] where two things look like they are related, but actually aren’t. Instead, the appearance of being related may be due to chance or some other cause.

      I think it's crucial, especially in academic research and data analysis, to be aware of this phenomenon and to look beyond just surface-level correlations. We need to dig deeper, consider potential confounding variables or alternative explanations, and really scrutinize whether there is a logical, causal mechanism that could explain the apparent correlation. Just because two things appear related in the data doesn't necessarily mean one is causing the other.

    1. Web tracking. October 2023. Page Version ID: 1181294364. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Web_tracking&oldid=1181294364 (visited on 2023-12-05).

      Web tracking is used by advertisers to collect user data and serve personalized ads, by sites like Netflix to recommend content, for web analytics, user testing, and law enforcement monitoring. Common tracking methods include IP logging, cookies, browser fingerprinting, ETags, canvas fingerprinting, and others like mouse tracking and supercookies. There is controversy around tracking revealing personal information without user consent, though businesses view it as valuable for marketing. To prevent tracking, users can use tools like Firefox tracking protection, uBlock Origin, privacy browser modes and search engines, and opt-out methods. However, advanced fingerprinting techniques can still enable some tracking despite countermeasures.

    1. Trolling is when an Internet user posts inauthentically (often false, upsetting, or strange) with the goal of causing disruption or provoking an emotional reaction. When the goal is provoking an emotional reaction, it is often for a negative emotion, such as anger or emotional pain. When the goal is disruption, it might be attempting to derail a conversation (e.g., concern trolling [g4]), or make a space no longer useful for its original purpose (e.g., joke product reviews), or try to get people to take absurd fake stories seriously

      I think trolling can significantly impact the quality of online discourse and community interactions. While the internet offers vast opportunities for sharing ideas and fostering meaningful connections, trolling undermines these potentials by promoting distrust and conflict. Frequent trolling can deter people from participating in online discussions, limit the exchange of ideas, and can even lead to emotional distress for individuals targeted by such behavior.

      Constructive engagement and respectful dialogue are crucial for productive online communities. Trolling not only disrupts these principles but also diminishes the overall experience for users who seek to gain knowledge, offer support, or engage in healthy debate. Encouraging positive interaction and developing strategies to manage and minimize trolling are important steps to enhance the quality and inclusivity of online spaces.

    1. Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. November 2023. Page Version ID: 1186577416. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Assassination_of_Martin_Luther_King_Jr.&oldid=1186577416#Alleged_government_involvement (visited on 2023-12-05).

      Martin Luther King Jr., a prominent civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. James Earl Ray, arrested for the crime, later attempted unsuccessfully to retract his guilty plea and died in prison in 1998. Conspiracy theories about government involvement persist, supported by the King family, who won a symbolic lawsuit in 1999 against alleged conspirator Loyd Jowers. King's nonviolent approach significantly shaped the civil rights movement, marking his lasting impact on American society.

    1. Web 2.0. October 2023. Page Version ID: 1179906793. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Web_2.0&oldid=1179906793#Web_1.0 (visited on 2023-11-24).

      Web 2.0, coined by Darcy DiNucci in 1999, envisioned the internet's transformation into an interactive, dynamic platform accessible on diverse devices, marking a departure from static web pages. This vision materialized as companies like Google and Facebook promoted user-generated content and interactive services, leading to a participatory web culture. The Web 2.0 era, highlighted by the first conference in 2004, emphasized collaboration, social networking, and the blurring of lines between content creators and consumers. It showcased the internet as a platform for continuous innovation and community-driven content, like Wikipedia and YouTube, reshaping user interaction with the web into an active, creative experience. This evolution significantly influenced the digital landscape, fostering an environment of shared knowledge and collective participation.

    2. Mark R. Cheathem. Conspiracy Theories Abounded in 19th-Century American Politics. URL: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/conspiracy-theories-abounded-19th-century-american-politics-180971940/ (visited on 2023-11-24).

      Conspiracy theories have long woven through the fabric of American politics, serving both to mobilize supporters and to sow division. While they can energize political bases, their ultimate impact—eroding trust in democratic institutions and fostering a climate of cynicism and apathy among the electorate—cannot be underestimated. The historical instances of the early 19th century underscore a cautionary tale for today's political landscape, where misinformation and polarization pose significant challenges. In my view, the responsibility lies with both political leaders and the electorate to critically evaluate the information they encounter and to foster a political environment where dialogue and truth prevail over unfounded suspicion. Striking a balance between skepticism and open-mindedness is crucial for the health of any democracy, emphasizing the need for education and critical thinking in navigating the complex world of political discourse.

    1. In the mid-1990s, some internet users started manually adding regular updates to the top of their personal websites (leaving the old posts below), using their sites as an online diary, or a (web) log of their thoughts. In 1998/1999, several web platforms were launched to make it easy for people to make and run blogs (e.g., LiveJournal and Blogger.com).

      The move from static personal web pages to dynamic blogs didn't just change the way people shared their lives online; it fundamentally altered how we consume information, engage with content, and even perceive our roles within the digital landscape. Blogs have been instrumental in blurring the lines between creators and consumers, empowering anyone with an internet connection to be a part of the global conversation.

    1. The 1980s and 1990s also saw an emergence of more instant forms of communication with chat applications. Internet Relay Chat (IRC) [e7] lets people create “rooms” for different topics, and people could join those rooms and participate in real-time text conversations with the others in the room.

      The introduction of IRC and similar chat applications marked the beginning of a new era in digital communication. These platforms laid the groundwork for the interactive and instantaneous communication methods we take for granted today, such as messaging apps and social media platforms. IRC's structure, with its emphasis on live, group conversations in thematic rooms, can be seen as a precursor to modern social media groups and chatrooms.

    1. Twitter. November 2023. Page Version ID: 1187856185. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter (visited on 2023-12-01).

      In summary, X, formerly known as Twitter, has evolved from a pioneering social media platform to a controversial entity under the leadership of Elon Musk and subsequent rebranding efforts. Despite its enduring popularity and widespread use, the platform has faced scrutiny for its role in disseminating harmful content. As it navigates these challenges and seeks to redefine its identity, X continues to play a significant role in shaping online discourse and communication.

    1. Metadata is information about some data. So we often think about a dataset as consisting of the main pieces of data (whatever those are in a specific situation), and whatever other information we have about that data (metadata)

      Metadata can include various types of information such as the source, creation date, format, ownership, and relationships between different pieces of data. It helps users understand the content and quality of the data, enabling them to make informed decisions about its use and interpretation. In today's digital age where vast amounts of data are generated and stored, metadata plays a fundamental role in data governance, data integration, and data discovery. It facilitates data management processes, enhances data interoperability, and supports data-driven decision-making across various domains, including business, academia, and government.

    1. Bots, on the other hand, will do actions through social media accounts and can appear to be like any other user. The bot might be the only thing posting to the account, or human users might sometimes use a bot to post for them.

      Bots, particularly in the context of social media, present a complex landscape that blends innovation with ethical dilemmas. On one hand, they can offer considerable benefits by automating routine tasks, providing customer service, disseminating information quickly, and engaging audiences in new ways. These positive applications can enhance user experiences and improve efficiency for businesses and platforms. On the other hand, the use of bots for manipulative purposes, such as spreading misinformation, artificially inflating follower counts or engagement metrics, and influencing public opinion or trends, raises significant concerns. These activities can undermine trust in digital platforms, distort public discourse, and impact real-world outcomes, from political elections to public health initiatives.

    1. Steven Tweedie. This disturbing image of a Chinese worker with close to 100 iPhones reveals how App Store rankings can be manipulated. February 2015. URL: https://www.businessinsider.com/photo-shows-how-fake-app-store-rankings-are-made-2015-2 (visited on 2024-03-07).

      The exposure of App Store ranking manipulation through a viral image showcases the problematic underground industry of fake app ratings and downloads. This situation underscores the significant challenges that Apple faces in maintaining the integrity of App Store rankings, highlighting the need for continuous efforts to combat these manipulative practices.

  3. Mar 2024
    1. 这些问题是道德思考的例子。伦理学是一种研究这些思维习惯的方式,这些思维习惯涉及道德上的正确和善良、我们应该做什么以及世界应该如何。大多数人都有道德信仰;例如,许多人认为偷窃是错误的。当我们停下来思考为什么偷窃是错误的,或者是什么导致偷窃是错误的,或者什么时候偷窃是错误的,我们就是在践行道德。

      I think the standard of ethics can change over time. For example, it is totally normal to have several wives in ancient time, but nowadays, it is unethical in most countries. However, as a Christian, I believe the ethical standards in Bible have never changed. Even though thousands years has passed by, we can still follow the rule. It is really important to have ethics in human society or it will be chaotic and everyone is only consider their own benefits and hurt others.

    1. Being and becoming an exemplary person (e.g., benevolent; sincere; honoring and sacrificing to ancestors; respectful to parents, elders and authorities, taking care of children and the young; generous to family and others). These traits are often performed and achieved through ceremonies and rituals (including sacrificing to ancestors, music, and tea drinking), resulting in a harmonious society.

      Confucianism believes in ancestor worship and human-centered virtues for living a peaceful life. The golden rule of Confucianism is “Do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you.” The main idea of Confucianism is the importance of having a good moral character, which can then affect the world around that person through the idea of “cosmic harmony.”